Cowlitz County accepts $11.7 million consolidated homeless grant, board directs oversight and workshop

Cowlitz County agreed to accept a $11.7 million Washington State Department of Commerce consolidated homeless grant and approved related contracts that will pass a portion of the funds to local providers.

Gina James, director of Health and Human Services, described the grant as a combination of state general funds and locally collected document-recording fees that are returned to counties to administer or pass through to local nonprofits. She said the grant historically funded Housing and Essential Needs (HEN) supports and recently included eviction-prevention and emergency housing lines, which increased the total award to roughly $11.7 million for the 2025–27 biennium.

James said counties receive funds under state rules and must follow the state’s spending requirements. She told the board allocations in prior biennia were driven by census and poverty formulas but said the state is changing some allocation methods to include spending-based metrics.

Commissioners and members of the public discussed oversight. Commissioner Dahl and others asked whether independent audits could be used to verify how providers spend pass-through funds. The chair said the county will explore arranging independent audits and suggested randomly auditing one or two contracts per year.

Community Mediation Center board president Luis Monzo, who appeared with staff, told the commissioners the center assisted more than 686 households facing eviction during the 2023–25 biennium and urged the county to accept the grant so local agencies can continue services. Jordan Wisdom of Community House on Broadway also expressed support and offered to deliver detailed funding concepts to the board.

James identified agencies that have received pass-through funds in prior years, including Lower Columbia CAP, Community Mediation Center, Community House, Family Health Center, Emergency Support Shelter, Phoenix House, Habitat for Humanity and Family Promise. She said the county historically committed portions to coordinated-entry access points and subgrantees and that some funds remain unspent or held as committed balances depending on project eligibility and timing.

Commissioners emphasized the county’s interest in keeping oversight local so commissioners can set priorities and require stewardship and accountability from providers. Dahl and Farrell said accepting and administering the grant gives the county a role in monitoring outcomes and in requiring audits or performance measures.

The board voted to approve the HHS contracts tied to the consolidated homeless grant (agenda items 11, 12 and 13). James and public commenters said staff will return with proposals for a workshop to discuss future allocations and oversight approaches.